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Map of Colombia's six geographic regions

Maps of Colombia

Colombia's map becomes much clearer when departmental boundaries are combined with the Andes, river valleys and the country's two coastlines.

Colombia stretches from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific and from the Andean highlands to the Orinoco and Amazon basins. Its mountainous core means that two places that look close together can require a long journey by road.

We therefore use three map layers at the same time: administrative division, physical geography and transport networks.

· SambaTravel

Political map of Colombia's departments and Bogotá D.C.

32 departments and Bogotá D.C.

Colombia has 32 departments plus Bogotá Distrito Capital. Bogotá lies geographically in the highlands surrounded by Cundinamarca but has its own administrative status. Departments help place destinations: Cartagena is in Bolívar, Medellín in Antioquia and Amazon journeys via Leticia in the department of Amazonas.

On a travel map, however, departmental boundaries are often less important than mountains, valleys and air connections.

Six geographic regions

DANE and IGAC divide Colombia into six broad geographic regions: Caribe, Insular, Pacífica, Andina, Orinoquía and Amazonía. The division reflects shared characteristics in relief, climate, geology, soils and cultural landscapes.

For travellers it is particularly useful because it explains the large differences between, for example, Cartagena, Bogotá, the Pacific coast of Chocó and the Amazon.

Political map of Colombia's departments and Bogotá D.C.

The Andes split into three cordilleras

In Colombia, the Andes divide into three principal ranges: the Cordillera Occidental, Central and Oriental. Between them run major valleys including those of the Cauca and Magdalena rivers. The combination of elevation and tropical latitude creates striking climatic differences over short distances.

Bogotá lies high on the eastern range, Medellín in an Andean valley and the Coffee Region around the central Andes. Road journeys should therefore be judged in hours rather than kilometres.

Caribbean, Pacific and the interior

The Caribbean coast includes Cartagena, Barranquilla, Santa Marta and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The Pacific coast is much more sparsely populated and in many places strongly dependent on boats and aircraft. East of the Andes, the Llanos of Orinoquía open towards Venezuela, while the southeast merges into the Amazon.

A single road map therefore cannot capture Colombia's real accessibility.

Political map of Colombia's departments and Bogotá D.C.

How we use maps of Colombia

We normally group a journey into geographic blocks: Bogotá and the highlands, Medellín and Antioquia, the Coffee Region, the Caribbean, and when relevant the Amazon or other remote areas. Flights are often more efficient between the blocks, while shorter regional journeys can be excellent overland.

Sources: administrative data follow DANE's DIVIPOLA, while the geographic regions follow DANE and IGAC.

Graphic showing Colombia's Andes, coastlines and lowlands

10 map facts about Colombia

  • Colombia has 32 departments and Bogotá Distrito Capital.
  • DANE and IGAC distinguish six broad geographic regions.
  • Colombia has coastlines on both the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
  • The Andes divide into three principal mountain ranges in Colombia.
  • The Magdalena and Cauca are two key river systems in the Andean part of the country.
  • Cartagena lies in the department of Bolívar.
  • Medellín lies in Antioquia, while Bogotá is its own Distrito Capital.
  • Leticia lies in Colombia's Amazon region near the borders with Brazil and Peru.
  • Colombia shares land borders with Panama, Venezuela, Brazil, Peru and Ecuador.
  • Mountain terrain means travel time is often more meaningful than map distance.